Ancic eliminates Murray

It is the third time the 20-year-old British number one has crossed swords with the Croatian this year and the second time he has come off on the losing side, following victory in the final of the Marseille Open and defeat in Miami last month.

But despite holding his own for much of the match after a slack start, his opponent, a former top 10 player who is now ranked 51st in the world following a series of injuries, proved more clinical when he had the opportunity.

Ancic took the first three games before Murray hit back but he couldn't break Ancic in the fifth and the Croatian eased to a 4-1 lead.

Murray continued to struggle with his serve and was penalised for a second double-fault in the sixth game, but he rallied well and lost only that exchange as he made it 4-2.

Murray took that momentum forward to claim successive games for the first time to make it four games apiece but Ancic took his fifth service decisively and Murray looked set to follow suit before he slumped from 40-0 up to set point down. Ancic took the game - and the first set - 6-4 at the second attempt.

He held serve in the first game of the second set without trouble, while Murray laboured in winning his next game, despite producing a first ace of the match.

Murray earned a pair of break points in the next game but spurned them both to allow Ancic to move to 2-1 up with a third ace of his own.

The next three games passed briskly and followed serve before a lengthy battle of Ancic's fourth service game. Murray got as far as deuce as he sought the break that could haul him back into contention but his opponent held on bravely.

Murray won the next and once again tested Ancic's serve in a mammoth ninth game, eventually losing another break point on his way to going 5-4 behind. It was to be his last chance to change the match as Ancic finished the stronger, breaking once again to make it 6-4 6-4.